"Your dog needs more exercise, does he have any dog friends to play with?" I ask as I hand back the leash to the new owners of a young rowdy rescue lab mix during a group class.
"He LOVES other dogs! We will take him back to the dog park just as soon as his conjunctivitis clears up."

I smile a frozen smile, give a short lecture, and then excuse myself to the bathroom for a warm wet paper towel to wash my eyes.

"Your dog has pretty bad breathe does he drink out of the toilet?" I ask of a new client .
"No we always leave the lid down because I am afraid he will drink bleach" she tells me.
"You may want to discuss this odor with his vet and have his teeth checked, there is quite a bit of tarter in there." I was really quite alarmed at the smell but didn't want to freak her out at the beginning of her first private session, and I planned to bring it up again before she went home.
The large black dog jumps up and kisses me square on the mouth while neither of us is paying attention to him.
She exclaims "Oh wow, he really likes you!"
I then I reiterate that this dog's mouth smells foul, and again voice my concern, and I am told in a matter of fact way;
"Really? Oh well sometimes he eats poop in the yard."

Frozen smile.
All I had.
Then I excuse my self and run to the bathroom again.

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